Zinnias

by Trisha Shirey

• Heat-loving, drought-tolerant annuals
• Zinnias trace their parentage to South America and South Texas
• Require well-drained soil
• Sun or afternoon shade. Zinnias will not perform well in semi-shade.
• Butterflies love them!? Plant in containers on the patio or porch for a close-up view.
• If possible, water by hand or with drip irrigation. Early-morning sprinklers will wash away nectar that attracts the butterflies.
• Easy to start from seed, or get nursery transplants
• Plant after soil has warmed up in late spring/early summer
• You can keep seeding throughout summer
• Fertilize regularly to promote top performance all summer

Classic, old-fashioned zinnia:
Zinnia elegans

• Many colors (including green!)
• Are susceptible to powdery mildew
• Best planted from seed; can keeping seeding throughout summer
• Must be deadheaded to keep them flowering and attractive

New varieties:

• Less susceptible to fungal disease
• Don’t require deadheading

Magellan
Dahlia-like flower up to 6? across
12-18? tall

Zahara
Slightly smaller flowers
Extremely durable in heat

Narrow-leaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)
Flowers about 1? wide
About 12? tall, make low masses of color
Flowers almost completely cover the leaves
Tidy plant for edging walkways or for containers
Only comes in 3 colors?gold, deep yellow, and white.
The white is a nice annual substitute for blackfoot daisy for gardeners in heavy clay

Short Stuff
12? tall
big impact on short stems

Profusion zinnia
Intensely vivid colors
Very profuse! ?

Article Type: Tip